Asia needs greater risk management as flood events rise

An expected rise in extreme flood events in Asia could likely put an extra 2.2 million people at risk, according to a study by catastrophe modelling company JBA Risk Management.

Vietnam could be the worst hit, with 1.1 million people potentially exposed to flood.

The study assesses the impact of climate change on six countries, including Vietnam, which the Mekong River runs through – the river being a key source of livelihood for approximately 37 million people living along its banks.

As a result of increased carbon dioxide emissions in a future climate, extreme and severe flood events will be a more common occurrence, which puts the 2.2 million people at risk, the study suggests.

Iain Willis, managing director of JBA Risk Management (Singapore), said: “What this research highlights is the need for a greater flood risk management – both from the public and private sector.

“If you look at natural hazard risk in Asia Pacific, there have been more than 1,800 large flood events in the region since 1970. These events have impacted nearly 3.5 million people and for Asia Pacific, with flood dominating more any other hazard in terms of its overall scale and impact.”

JBA has called for greater flood risk management from both public and private sectors, which coincides with the JBA Company opening in Singapore.

Led by Willis, the Singapore office will work closely with existing offices in Cambodia and Australia.

“For JBA, it was an obvious step to open our new company office in Singapore. We’ve been supporting individuals and businesses alike for a long time from our UK headquarters but we didn’t feel that was enough, and perhaps more importantly, we’re well aware of the enormous need for improved flood risk management in the region,” Willis added.

“As we look forward in this current decade and further into the 21st century, we perceive this trend as increasing further – for lots of different reasons.

“Population increase and urban infrastructure development throughout Asia Pacific have been dramatic in the last 50 years. With new developments encroaching further onto floodplains, increasing evidence of climate change on precipitation and sea level rise, and mega city land subsidence, lots of factors are playing a pivotal role in increasing flood risk potential.”